Presidents Corner TEXAS CHAPTER ANTIQUE AIRPLANE ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY Page 1

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Chastity Roberts
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A huge thank you to our kind and longtime friend Chuckie Hospers. Chuckie is the Director of the Vintage Flying Museum, and she ensures we are comfortable and taken care of each time we return.

With the primary mission of the Vintage Flying Museum preserving America s flying heritage, this local institution continues to be a perfect fit for us.

This ninety-eight-year-old, WW II veteran, author, survivor, and historian spoke to us about being a flight engineer on a B-29.

1 TEXAS CHAPTER ANTIQUE AIRPLANE ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY 2018 Presidents Corner What a way to kick off 2018! My first official meeting as your president went well and I am thankful for all who attended, our host, speaker, and of course those who helped pull the meeting together. What a team we have. A huge thank you to our kind and longtime friend Chuckie Hospers. Chuckie is the Director of the Vintage Flying Museum, and she ensures we are comfortable and taken care of each time we return. Our Chapter loves the venue, and of course the great aircraft. With the primary mission of the Vintage Flying Museum preserving America s flying heritage, this local institution continues to be a perfect fit for us. Please consider visiting the museum throughout the year. It s a great place to spend a day or take an out-of-town visitor! In the center of everything was our speaker, Mr. Fiske Hanley II. This ninety-eight-year-old, WW II veteran, author, survivor, and historian spoke to us about being a flight engineer on a B-29. He told us about being shot down, facing certain death, and being lucky to be alive. While this was not Mr. Hanley s first time speaking to our Chapter, this was the first time I got to meet him and hear him tell a piece of his amazing story. Fiske was kind, funny, sharp, and friendly. What a gem. I noticed Fiske asking people for their contact information and stating he likes to stay in touch. When you have a minute, Fiske Hanley at hanley1@charter.net to exchange information, mention our meeting, and say thanks. I m certain he would love to hear from you. The final count on attendees at our January meeting was nearly 55 people! I am certain we had good food as well as friends to visit with. And I know for sure I heard a tall tale! During my opening statement, I mentioned the health of our Chapter being in good shape. Fifty-five airplane lovers and friends is what I m talking about. We must keep this going. Our February meeting will be at the Nebrig and Associates hangar at the Denton airport (DTO). I am looking forward to hearing our next speaker, a real-world bush pilot, Mr. David Speyers tell us about how flying in Peru is different than flying in the USA. Carrying unexpected cargo, saving lives, and more Don t miss hearing David, and please bring a friend along. Let s hope for great weather and lots of airplanes to fly in! Our potluck lunch is at noon, but come early to visit! Thanks to all and see you soon! Keep the antiques flying! Joel Page 1

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AIR MAIL PIONEERS Celabrate 40th Anniversary TRANSCONTINENTAL AIR MAIL SERVICE By Clarence K. Stewart Secretary - Treasurer Central Division The national organization of Air Mail Pioneers, Inc.

Air Mail Pioneers is an organization of, by and for the former employees of the United States Post Office Department Air Mail Service between August 12, 1918 and August 21, 1927.

Five Hundred Seventy-Five members are accounted for, now scattered in all parts of the country. Many are known to be deceased and whereabouts of many are unknown. National Officers are: W. S. Scottie Tefft, Presi-dent, Miami, Florida; Edward A.

4 AIR MAIL PIONEERS Celabrate 40th Anniversary TRANSCONTINENTAL AIR MAIL SERVICE By Clarence K. Stewart Secretary - Treasurer Central Division The national organization of Air Mail Pioneers, Inc., formerly known as the Air Mail Pioneers Last Man Club celebrated the 40th Anniversary of flying the mail coast to coast, the goal achieved September 8, Air Mail Pioneers is an organization of, by and for the former employees of the United States Post Office Department Air Mail Service between August 12, 1918 and August 21, The organization consists of the National, and three divisions: Eastern, Central and Western with Chap-ters in each. Five Hundred Seventy-Five members are accounted for, now scattered in all parts of the country. Many are known to be deceased and whereabouts of many are unknown. National Officers are: W. S. Scottie Tefft, Presi-dent, Miami, Florida; Edward A. Keogh, Vice-Pres-ident, Riverside, Illinois; Elmer McCorkel, Secretary Aurora, Colorado; George I. Meyers, Treasurer, Denver, Colorado. The DeHavilland (D. H. 4B) mail plane of 1926 with running lights and landing lights, extended exhaust pipes and heavier landing gear with larger wheels and tires. The longerons were strengthened by the ad-dition of metal fittings. Plywood covering was used on the fuselage instead of the fabric covering used on the military version of the plane. The Liberty engine was completely rebuilt and exten-sively modified by the substitution of better bearings, piston rings, timing gear, and other parts not stand-ard in the original plane. There were so many different versions of the Air Mail D. H. 4 that it is not possible to list the speci-fications of weight, speed, ceiling, etc., since these values would change with the individual plane. With the lighting of the route July 1st, 1924, from Chicago to Cheyenne, with flashing and rotating beacons, and flood lights at air fields, the flying time was reduced to thirty-three hours, from New York to San Francisco. Page 4

...PIONEERS Memorial marker at Miller Meadow Forest Preserve Park, at the site of the Old Checker-board Air Mail field at Maywood, Illinois, dedicated three years ago to posterity.

5 ...PIONEERS Memorial marker at Miller Meadow Forest Preserve Park, at the site of the Old Checker-board Air Mail field at Maywood, Illinois, dedicated three years ago to posterity. Photo from Charles K. Stewart. FATALITIES IN THE LINE OF DUTY U>S> AIR MAIL SERVICE, Carl B. Smith Pilot Dec. 16, 1918 DH-97 Inexperience of pilot on this type of ship. August Thiele Mechanic Jan. 8, 1919 Struck on head with pro-peller while starting en-gine. Frank McCusker Pilot May 25, 1919 DH-61 Jumped from plane at altitude of 200 feet at first indication of fire. Chas. W. Lamborn Pilot July 19, 1919 DH-82 Lost control of plane in fog at low altitude. Lyman W. Doty Pilot Oct. 14, 1919 R-32 Struck tree in attempting forced landing during low visibility. John P. Charlton, Jr. Pilot Oct. 30, 1919 DH-77 Nosed over on forced landing. Wrecked plane. Clayton W. Stoner Pilot March 10, 1920 DH-65 Ran into tree in fog. Plane caught fire when it crashed. Harry C. Sherlock Pilot March 30, 1920 DH-72 Ran into smoke stack on factory near field. Plane caught fire. Richard W. Wright Pilot April 10, 1920 R-49 Riding with another pilot on ferry trip; jumped or fell from plane when it caught fire. Clarence Stapleton Clerk April 11, 1920 JN4D Riding with pilot in un-authorized flight; plane fell in tail spin and crashed. W. J. McCandless Division May 12, 1920 DH-79 Riding with pilot on ferry Supt. trip. Struck tree in land-ing to find way. N. C. Montis Mechanic June 6, 1920 Charles Nanista Robert Gautier Max Miller Matrin 204 Flying as mechanic. One motor stopped just after leaving field. Plane crashed. Helper Aug. 8, 1920 Struck on head with propeller. Pilot Aug. 16, 1920 DH Struck radio mast while practising landings in rain. Plane crashed and caught fire. Pilot Sept. 1, 1920 JL-305 Plane caught fire in air and crashed. Gustav Reierson Mechanic Sept. 1, 1920 JL-305 Riding with Max Miller. Walter H. Stevens Pilot Sept. 14, 1920 JL-308 Plane caught fire in air; landed safely but tank exploded before pilot and mechanic could get out. Russell L. Thomas Mechanic Sept. 14, 1920 JL-308 Riding with Walter Stevens. Frederick A. Robinson Pilot Sept. 27, 1920 DH Ran into heavy cables across river. Bryan McMullen Pilot Oct. 16, 1920 DH-76 Stalled, crashed and caught fire while making forced landing in fog. John P. Woodward Pilot Nov. 6, 1920 DH-178 Ran into hillside in fog and snow storm. There are men still living among us who deserve to be honored for their deeds. Some of them are the pi-lots of the U. S. Air Mail Service. These men navigated without instruments through weather in which the birds were walking. They flew without benefit of charts worthy of the name, without air route markers or radio aids. They dared to pioneer a field upon which a modern nation has been built, and we owe them a tremendous debt. In 1943, the Roll Call, publication of the Air Mail Pioneers, listed 555 members in the country. Many of these pilots are now deceased or perhaps were not made known at the time. Their Club continues to make a determined effort to locate as many of these selfless men as possible. Perhaps some of our readers know of the whereabouts, or stories, of these men, whose organization can survive onry a few more years... Editor Page 5

Minutes of the General Meeting Jan, 2018 The Jan 20th meeting was called to order at 12:40 by President Joel Meanor. Agenda: Our speaker this month was Mr.

6 Minutes of the General Meeting Jan, 2018 The Jan 20th meeting was called to order at 12:40 by President Joel Meanor. Agenda: Our speaker this month was Mr. Fiske Hanley II, WW II veteran, author, survivor, and historian spoke to us about being a flight engineer on a B-29. It was announced that the next meeting will be Feb 17, Nebrig & Associates, Denton Enterprise Airport Happy birthday and anniversary to the January members. Treasurer s Report: The Treasurer s Report for December was presented by Joetta Reetz and was approved as read. Previous Meeting Minutes: Minutes from the Jan meeting were printed in the December issue of the newsletter and were approved as printed. Old Business: None New Business: Door prizes were awarded. A motion to adjourn was made and seconded. The meeting ended at 1:40pm. Respectfully submitted by Terry Wallace, Secretary Texas Chapter AAA CALENDAR OF EVENTS 2018 Next Meeting: For Flyers: The Nebrig hangar is on the southeast part of the Denton airport, off Taxiway Kilo. Ground Control is familiar with The Nebrig Hangar and will provide directions. You can see a Nebrig & Associates sign from the main taxiway. Either find a place to park on their ramp, or in the nearby grass. For Drivers: The address is 4801 John Carrell Rd, Denton, TX From 35W, go west on Airport Road. As you approach the airport, turn left (south) on Westcourt Road. 300 yards later, turn right into the airport on John Carrell Road. It dead ends, with the Nebrig hangar and office on the left. Upcoming Meetings 2018: Feb 17 Nebrig & Associates, Denton Enterprise Airport Mar 17 Bobby Jones, Tailwheel Acres Airport Apr 21 Decatur Jet Center, Decatur Municipal Airport May 19 Lanny Parcells, Propwash Airport Jun 16 Bo Case s, Fairview Airport Jul 14 Frontiers of Flight Museum, Love Field Aug 18 Jim Austin s, Northwest Regional Airport, pancake breakfast hosted by Terry Wallace Sep Pelican s Landing, Cedar Mills Airport Oct 12 / 13 Ayers Aviation / Annual Fly-In, Gainesville Municipal Airport Nov 17 Laurie Mitchell s, Fairview Airport, annual Bert Mahon chili cook-off. Dec 15 Christmas Party, Golden Corral, Keller TX Fly-Ins of Interest 2018 March 2nd - 3rd: Arizona Chapter AAA Annual Fly-In, Casa Grande, AZ March 21st: Cooks Children s Hospital fly over. You can contact Darrell Irby at dale.irby@tccd.edu with questions. April 7th - 8th: Heart of Texas Airshow,, in Waco at TSTC WACO (KCNW). Contact Joel Meanor at joelmeanor@gmail. com or Check it out here April 21st: Hallettsville Texas fly-in and pig roast, 34R August 29th: - September1: National AAA Fly-In, Blakesburg, IA. October 12th:-13th: Fall Festival of Flight TXAAA Annual Fly-In, Gainesville, TX. October 25th - 28th: Flying M Ranch, Reklaw, TX AIRSPACE RESERVATION - Any geographcal location set aside by the U.S. Government for the exclusive occupancy of airspace. Page 6

Classified FOR SALE: 1 Jacobs R-755-9 245 Hp 165 Hr smoh, 1 Stearman 220 Cont. motor mount, 1 Leise Nevill 50 amp gen,1946 Cessna 120 airframe.

Contact Al Hilton 972-741-4520 11/16 1940 STINSON MODEL 10 $29,000 AVAILABLE FOR SALE OR TRADE - Fully restored in 1998. ATT 1698, Lycoming O-235 (222 hours SMOH from Factory).

7 Classified FOR SALE: 1 Jacobs R Hp 165 Hr smoh, 1 Stearman 220 Cont. motor mount, 1 Leise Nevill 50 amp gen,1946 Cessna 120 airframe. Contact at (940) Bob Landrum 11/16 T-HANGER FOR RENT: At Clark Airport, Justin,TX. $ per month. Contact Al Hilton / STINSON MODEL 10 $29,000 AVAILABLE FOR SALE OR TRADE - Fully restored in ATT 1698, Lycoming O-235 (222 hours SMOH from Factory). Cleveland Toe Brakes (both sides), Garmin GNC 300, Transponder, 40 Gal Fuel, Original Metal Wheel pants included. MAKE OF- FER!! Contact Daniel Anderson, Owner - located Venus, TX USA Telephone: Ltnads@hotmail. com 11/16 Lots For Sale - I have 4 lots for sale on the other side of the runway. The lots are about 2.5 ac. If you would pass this on to all the club people I would like to find someone that would like to live out here. The airport is 1XA6 in Valley View Tx. I am asking $44, People can call me at Thanks Bobby Jones It s better to break ground and head into the wind than to break wind and head into the ground. Need Aviation Hardware? HAIRE AVIATION LLC Jerry T. Haire / Richard N. Haire haireav@haireaviation.com Bus. (940) Fax (888) TEXAS CHAPTER ANTIQUE AIRPLANE ASSOCIATION Membership Application - Renewal Form Name: Spouse: Address: City: State: ZIP: Phone: National Aircraft Type: AAA No. (Ownership of an aircraft is not required) To start or renew membership in the Texas Chapter of the Antique Airplane Association please furnish the above information and send it with $25.00(payable to Texas AAA) to: Treasurer, Texas Antique Airplane Association, 5416 Catlow Valley Rd., Ft. Worth, TX Page 7

Texas Chapter Antique Airplane Association 2417 Stonegate Dr. N. Bedford, TX 76021 KEEP THE ANTIQUES FLYING MEMBERSHIP AND DUES OWNERSHIP OF AN AIRPLANE IS NOT REQUIRED.

Visit our Web site at www.texasantiqueairplane.org or www.txaaa.org for details and a printable Application Form. New Members Dues are PRO RATED, contact an Officer for correct amount.

8 Texas Chapter Antique Airplane Association 2417 Stonegate Dr. N. Bedford, TX KEEP THE ANTIQUES FLYING MEMBERSHIP AND DUES OWNERSHIP OF AN AIRPLANE IS NOT REQUIRED. The only Requirement is a Love of Airplanes and the Fellowship of those who share that Passion. Membership and Dues for the Texas Chapter of the Antique Airplane Association are $25.00 per year. Visit our Web site at or for details and a printable Application Form. New Members Dues are PRO RATED, contact an Officer for correct amount. NOTE: Membership expires on September 30 each year. Send dues and address changes to TXAAA Treasurer, 5416 Catlow Valley Rd. Fort Worth, TX The Texas Chapter supports and encourages membership in the National Antique Airplane Association. For Information about joining the National AAA, Visit their Web site at or antiqueairfield@sirisonline. com or you may write: Antique Airplane Association, Antique Airfield, Bluegrass Road, Ottumwa, IA See a color newsletter on our web site at Board Members President: Joel Meanor 1015 Trail Ridge Ct. Keller, TX (817) joelmeanor@gmail.com Vice President: Jack Fulford 1908 Haversham Drive Flower Mound, TX (469) fulford1@verizon.net, Secretary: Terry Wallace 2417 Stonegate Dr. North Bedford, TX (817) (Cell) wallacete@cs.com Treasurer: Joetta Reetz 5416 Catlow Valley Rd. Fort Worth, TX (817) (Cell) joetta.reetz@yahoo.com Activities Coordinators: Terry Doyle 2946 Oak Forest Grapevine, TX (817) (Home) (817) (Cell) res05093@msn.com Phil and Margaret Cook 1628 Fuqua Flower Mound, TX (972) jpcookie1@verizon.net Web site Designer: Marianna Sokolich 4308 Lavaca Drive Plano, TX Newsletter Designer: Barry Wallace 197 Sandridge Drive Collinsville, IL (618) (Cell) wallacebarry1@gmail.com Historian: G.R. Dennis Price P.O. Box Austin, TX (512) (Cell) grdprice@yahoo.com Past President: Terry Wallace 2417 Stonegate Dr. North Bedford, TX (817) (Cell) wallacete@cs.com Fly-In Chairman: Joel Meanor 1015 Trail Ridge Ct. Keller, TX (817) joelmeanor@gmail.com National Director: Terry Wallace 2417 Stonegate Dr. North Bedford, TX (817) (Cell) wallacete@cs.com Texas State Director: Jim Dougherty 815 Blossomwood Dr. Arlington, TX (817) jimmy7576@sbcglobal.net Page 8

Vice Presidents Corner...

TEXAS CHAPTER ANTIQUE AIRPLANE ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER JUNE 2018 Vice Presidents Corner... Thanks to all the folks that were able to make our May TXAAA meeting at Propwash! Attendance was great (I think